STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY

In 1987, Lebanese society was riddled with deep social, economic,
political, and sectarian divisions. Individual Lebanese were primarily
identified with their family as the principal object of their loyalty
and the basis of marriage and social relationships as well as the
confessional system. This, in turn, tended to clash with national
integration and cohesion. Society was divided not only into diverse
sectarian communities but also into socioeconomic strata that cut across
confessional lines.